BEATING BUDDHISTS IN BABYLON
(Col. Writ. 12/21/01)
Philadelphia. The nation's first capital. "Cradle of Liberty!"
Those thoughts must have echoed in the minds of some of the hundreds who came to Philadelphia on a rainy day in December, to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech, to protest.
Isn't Philadelphia such a place for this? Isn't this "Where America Begins", according to some corporate tourist pitchman?
According to independent journalists and activists at the scene, covering annual actions on behalf of this writer, peaceful marchers were attacked by gun-wielding, maniacal cops, who assaulted, beat, and then arrested at least 8 activists, for trumped-up charges.
In Philadelphia, it has become local custom to beat, threaten, arrest, intimidate and lie on activists who dare to come out in behalf of the life and liberty of this writer.
That was the case during the infamous Republican National Convention, as well as the Democratic National Convention several weeks thereafter. In Philadelphia, the so-called City of Brotherly Love, where the Constitution was crafted and quarrelled over, the right of free speech is a crime punishable by bruises, broken bones, and jail cells. To act according to one's belief entitles you to a beat-down by uniformed professionals in brutality, and, if you're very lucky, to a million dollar bail.
Hai Au Huynh, a Vietnamese activist who is just over 5'3" in height, and under 100 pounds, was slammed to the ground so hard by cops that she was knocked unconscious. She has a broken tailbone.
Hai Au Huynh, and many others were victims of a police riot, and an open attempt of state terrorism. Daniel Valme, Heather Strausberger, Matthew Warfield, Teishan Latner, Jeffrey Daitson, Tristan Ahtone, and the Rev. Kabutzu Malone were also arrested.
Some were charged with assaulting the cops, others with incitement to riot, and other official lies. People had guns pointed at them by testosterone-drunk cops, all -- all, because they dared to protest.
Welcome to Philadelphia. Welcome to the new century. Welcome to 'Homeland Security'.
This really looks like a case of 'Homeland INsecurity', doesn't it?
What is the logic of beating up, threatening, arresting, posting high bails on, and then lying on activists in court and in charging papers, to prove that such things aren't done in Philadelphia?
Hundreds of youth, from dozens of move- ments, saw and experienced first hand, the terror tactics of the cops, the DAs, and the police-controlled Philadelphia judiciary, when they had fake charges thrown out, or had been acquitted by juries. They saw cops lying on the stand, in the face of VIDEOTAPE EVIDENCE to the contrary!
What do you think they learned about Philadelphia? That the government acted fairly in the case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Mumia Abu-Jamal?
Someone, anyone, from whatever background, who experiences such, yes --- terrorist attacks, by agents of the state, learns only that the state, no matter what it says, no matter how many claims it raises, is fundamentally unjust.
They have learned that the Constitution is just so much toilet paper. It is a fiction. It is the pulp from which Grimm Fairy Tales are published.
They learn that the currency of the state is fear. Fear through force. Fear, hidden in black robes, blue uniforms, and brittle shrines held together with paper.
They learn, not that the cops are public servants, average joes, doin' their jobs, but that they have become Masters of the house, and that judges are their playthings, and DAs are their accomplices.
They learn something fundamental about American 'justice': that there ain't none.
Copyright 2001 maj
Text © copyright 2001 by Mumia Abu-Jamal.
All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission of the author.International Action Center
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